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[-Continuation-]
[-After A Week-]
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[Hachiman's POV]
It is time for Christmas.
The school campus, which was already on winter break, was empty.
Regardless, the club activities are still on.
I sprawled in my chair like a lazy cat, stretching my limbs while eyeing the clock.
"Remind me again why we are here?" I grumbled, gesturing at the empty halls outside the club room. . "It's supposed to be vacation time."
Yukinoshita, from her seat across the table, glanced up from her book, strands of dark hair falling frustratingly over one eye. "Club activities don't take vacations, Hikigaya. Unlike your motivation, apparently."
"Yeah! You tell him, Yukinon!" Yuigahama nodded so hard that I thought her head might fall off. "
"Some Vice-President you are, Hikki. Shouldn't you be setting a better example?" She added, her tone wanting to one up on me.
I couldn't help but smirk, leaning back with an exaggerated sigh. "Well, well, it's refreshing to hear someone acknowledge my esteemed position."
"H-hey, I never agreed to that!" Yuigahama protested, her cheeks flushing. "I just said it's super fun to hang out together!"
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Fun? Sitting in a room with nothing to do, sipping tea?"
Yukinoshita's voice dripped with sarcasm. "If you hate it so much, I am sure you remember where the door is. Or do you need a map?"
"Nah…" I said, wrapping my hands around the warm cup. It felt nice. "It's actually warmer here than at my house. My old man is on an 'energy-saving' kick again."
Sorry, old man, I silently apologized for throwing you under the bus. But hey, you know I still love you, right?
"Hikigaya, a little respect for your father wouldn't hurt." Yukinoshita chided, her tone stern as ever.
I blinked. Seriously? There she went again, if I remember correctly, this isn't the first time she's said something like that, right?
She was already taking sides, and to make matters worse, it wasn't even my side.
While I was contemplating my status even in the future family tree, Yuigahama interrupted my thoughts.
Her eyes got all squinty, like she was trying not to laugh. "Oh? You just admitted that you like being here? Hikki."
"...Obviously. Why else would I show up?" I mumbled, trying to hide my embarrassment.
Yuigahama burst out laughing. She pointed at me, almost spilling her tea. "Hikki, you are such a tsundere!"
"Am not-!" I protested weakly.
"Now, now." Yukinoshita chimed in, a subtle smile teasing her lips.
It was a sight I had come to appreciate. It reminded me that beneath that sharp exterior lay a softness that only a few had the privilege to see.
"Don't tease him too much. He might get so flustered he will spill his tea."
"...." I glared at both of them, but I wasn't really mad.
As annoying as they could be, I had to admit - if only to myself - that there were worse ways to spend a cold winter day. Not that I would ever tell them that.
I lifted my cup, using it as a shield to hide my growing awkwardness. "Yeah, well, maybe if I had a better reason to be here." I muttered, attempting a smirk to shake off the embarrassment.
"Oh? Like what?" Yukinoshita challenged, her glinting eyes daring me.
I hesitated, scrambling for a witty response that wouldn't reveal too much.
"You know, I could use this time for some deep self-reflection. Find inner peace and balance. Duties call, anything to distract me from the harsh truth of..." I paused, fishing for words that sounded important. "The gnawing sense of meaninglessness."
Yuigahama tilted her head, looking puzzled. "Wait, so... you want to find peace and stuff, but you're hung up on... what exactly? The whole meaning thing? I'm kinda lost here."
I guess that was a bit too philosophical for her.
"Don't strain yourself, Yui," Yukinoshita interrupted gently. "It's just Hikigaya being dramatic."
She leaned back, her gaze steady on mine. "No one's trying to get rid of you." She added softly. "We're here because we enjoy each other's company."
I tilted my head back, draining the last drops of tea from my cup. Although the cup was empty now, it was still slightly warm.
I let out a short sigh, and at that moment, three sighs overlapped in the quiet room.
Yukinoshita brushed her hair away and glanced at our empty cups. She stood up without a word and moved to prepare more tea.
"Yuigahama, would you like another serving of tea?" Yukinoshita asked as she prepared the tea, steam rising gently from the pot.
"Oh, yeah! Thanks!" Yuigahama, sitting diagonally opposite me, extended her mug excitedly, almost knocking over a pile of papers.
Yukinoshita returned with the teapot, wisps of steam curling invitingly from its spout.
"Hikigaya, your cup, if you please." She said, her tone a playful command.
"I would rather have MAX coffee." I muttered, clutching my empty mug like a lifeline. "This tea isn't cutting it."
"Nonsense." Yukinoshita cut me off. "You will have another cup. It's cold, and tea will do you good."
Her expression softened slightly as she added, "And I suggest cutting back on that sugar-laden concoction you call coffee for a while. We can't have you catching a cold on us."
I made a big show of sighing, but handed over my cup anyway.
"There. Satisfied?" I grumbled.
"Ecstatic." She replied dryly.
"Since when did you become such a tea tyrant?" I asked, eyebrow raised.
Yuigahama giggled, her orange hair bouncing with the movement. "Yukinon's always been like that, Hikki! You just never notice."
"I simply believe in proper hydration." Yukinoshita said, trying to look serious despite the twinkle in her eyes.
"Also, there's quite a bit of cookies left over, so could I ask you two to help finish them?" She gestured to a box filled with an assortment of cookies, each meticulously decorated.
"Sure, thanks…" I muttered, rustling through the cookies that were bunched up in the box.
Yuigahama peered into the box eagerly. "I will have some too!" She exclaimed, carefully selecting her cookies before taking a bite, her face lighting up with delight.
"Help yourself."
"Yay! The cookies that Yukinon makes are so good!"
Yukinoshita showed her a small smile at the compliment, and Yuigahama happily munched on her cookie.
But suddenly realizing something, she vigorously stood up from her chair.
"…Er, wroooooog!"
Her voice echoed through the quiet room, leaving me wondering what revelation had just dawned on her.
Yukinoshita, ever the mother hen, immediately scolded her. "Goodness, Yuigahama. What's gotten into you? You will spill your tea if you're not careful."
I just sighed, used to Yuigahama's antics by now. But she wasn't having any of our lackluster reactions.
"Guys, seriously?" Yuigahama's eyes were wide as saucers. "We're totally slacking! Weren't we supposed to figure out what we're doing after this?"
Yukinoshita blinked, realization dawning on her face. "Speaking of which, we were, weren't we…"
Finally obtaining a satisfying response, Yuigahama nodded as she abruptly stretched out her hands. "Yeah, yeah! So, today's Christmas, what should we do? It's a rare opportunity, so let's all do something wild and crazy!"
I slouched in my chair, already feeling drained at the thought of whatever 'wild and crazy' meant to Yuigahama. "Isn't this already special enough? Sitting here, drinking tea, doing absolutely nothing?"
Yukinoshita shot me a look that was equal parts amusement and exasperation. "There you go again, your idea of 'special' leaves much to be desired."
Yuigahama, undeterred by my lack of enthusiasm, clapped her hands together. "Come on, Hikki! We should do something fun together! How about we go see the Christmas lights in the city? Or maybe have a special dinner?"
I couldn't help but groan. "Wouldn't those places be packed with couples? No thanks."
Yukinoshita nodded in agreement.
"Hikigaya has a point. Perhaps something less crowded would be more enjoyable." She turned to Yuigahama, waiting for more suggestions.
Yuigahama's face scrunched up in concentration, looking like she was trying to solve a complex maths problem. "Okay, um... How about we all pig out on fried chicken?"
"While those are typical Christmas foods, I am not convinced they count as a special plan all by themselves." I interjected.
"And we can have chicken any day of the week, can't we?" Yukinoshita pointed out.
Yuigahama, choking on her words, but still continued. "OOkay, if the chicken's no good, then… Let's eat cake instead, cake!"
"Cake, huh…" I muttered, my mind drifting.
Does she have some kind of obsession with cake? I remembered she had also brought it when Yukinoshita was sick. It seemed to be her go-to solution for any situation.
I quickly added. "But where would we even get a cake on Christmas day? Everything that's good is probably sold out by now."
Yuigahama looked at me, with a disappointment clear in her tone. "Geez, Hikki, you're shooting down everything. What, you don't like sweets or something?"
Before I could even open my mouth to respond, Yukinoshita beat me to it.
"Not at all. As a matter of fact, he likes them."
Yuigahama's head whipped around with surprise as she stared at Yukinoshita.
"Huh? How are soo sure, Yukinon?"
….
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[To be continued…]
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